1 min
The digital age is a critical period in the growth and development of agriculture, especially in the developing countries, as it is run purely on information. This is because a lot of data is being generated and agriculture is posed to benefit from data gathering, analysis and insights. This is reflected in the new technologies developed, new practices implemented to improve productivity and efficiency at the different stages of production. Asides production, marketing is a very important stage, it separates success from failure and also influences the quantities to be produced.
Every farmer or agribusiness is constantly either looking for a new market or understanding the markets' dynamics and their new realities. And this cannot be achieved without accurate data that are transformed to information, which are used to make informed decisions. Without building appropriate data infrastructure to support data processes, it will be difficult to access the right information especially for marketing of produce and products. And this could have a greater adverse effect on the food system.
Although, there are individual organizations developing data infrastructure to reduce its impact on market accessibility. However, this has only been used for specific purposes and has not been scaled (only a very small market size). We need a strong and central data infrastructure that can support the majority of these actors and also provide all types of information. For instance, internet connectivity is still limited in most rural communities. Therefore, stakeholders in the rural communities might be excluded from obtaining the right market information and other relevant information. Thus, we need to address this issue holistically using our existing resources to help achieve shared prosperity and at the same time contributing to food security.
It is everyone's business; all relevant stakeholders need to work together in building a more resilient food system. The government needs to invest in infrastructural support in rural communities through public private partnership in order for its sustainability. As a private sector (especially extension organizations), we need to establish centralized incentives that provide access to reliable and relevant information to the various actors in the agricultural space; we need to show where the demands are – to link the suppliers, and where the supplies are – to link the producers – a complete end-to-end that is strong enough to support all these actors and help the system self sustaining. A good information system cannot be overemphasized in the growth and development of our food system. Let us rebuild a strong infrastructure to help sustain our food system as we scale our production for a better yield.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
Although, there are individual organizations developing data infrastructure to reduce its impact on market accessibility. However, this has only been used for specific purposes and has not been scaled (only a very small market size). We need a strong and central data infrastructure that can support the majority of these actors and also provide all types of information. For instance, internet connectivity is still limited in most rural communities. Therefore, stakeholders in the rural communities might be excluded from obtaining the right market information and other relevant information. Thus, we need to address this issue holistically using our existing resources to help achieve shared prosperity and at the same time contributing to food security.
It is everyone's business; all relevant stakeholders need to work together in building a more resilient food system. The government needs to invest in infrastructural support in rural communities through public private partnership in order for its sustainability. As a private sector (especially extension organizations), we need to establish centralized incentives that provide access to reliable and relevant information to the various actors in the agricultural space; we need to show where the demands are – to link the suppliers, and where the supplies are – to link the producers – a complete end-to-end that is strong enough to support all these actors and help the system self sustaining. A good information system cannot be overemphasized in the growth and development of our food system. Let us rebuild a strong infrastructure to help sustain our food system as we scale our production for a better yield.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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